SEPTEMBER 24, 2023
SEPTEMBER 24, 2023
SEPTEMBER 24, 2023
DR. ERNEST PEREIRA
MUSIC DIRECTOR
FESTIVAL IN THE PARK
SEPTEMBER 24, 2023
PRELUDE TO ACT 3 LOHENGRIN
CHANSON DU TOREADOR
INTERMEZZO
TRIUMPHAL MARCH FROM AIDA
PORGY & BESS SUITE, ARR. SAYRE
THRONE ROOM AND END TITLES
ABOUT THE YOC FAMILY
The Youth Orchestras of Charlotte is dedicated to nurturing and inspiring the musical talents of youth in the greater Charlotte area. We provide exceptional instruction and performance experiences in symphonic orchestra and chamber ensemble settings. Our ensembles are led and coached by a team that includes musicians of the Charlotte Symphony and area music educators.
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Youth Orchestra of Charlotte - A full symphony orchestra made up of high school age musicians, performing masterpieces from the orchestral repertoire in a professional symphony setting.
Preparatory Orchestra - A full symphony orchestra that performs both actual symphonic literature and arrangements of the repertoire geared to advanced younger players. It is a training orchestra for the YOC.
Sinfonia Strings - A string orchestra that prepares young musicians in the art of orchestral performance
Flute Choir - An ensemble that performs flute choir repertoire and explores a wide variety of musical genres
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
• Being part of a community of musicians that shares a passion for music making and challenging repertoire
• Masterclasses with nationally recognized guest artists
• Perform with guest soloists
• Sectional rehearsals with musicians of the Charlotte Symphony and area music educators
• Audition experiences
• Chamber music and community performance opportunities
• Travel opportunities in select years (i.e. Kennedy Center Performance in 2020)
• Opportunities to be a featured student soloist
• Advancement and leadership opportunities within the ensembles
• Camps, retreats and social events throughout the season
Music Director and conductor of the Youth Orchestras of Charlotte, Dr. Ernest Pereira previously conducted the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras, leading them in performances at Charlotte’s Festival in the Park, Summer Pops at Symphony Park, as well as at national concert venues in Washington, D.C. and Charleston, SC, for Piccolo Spoleto. Under Pereira’s baton, the CSYO performed twice at the prestigious venue of Carnegie Hall in New York City, in 2002 and 2017 He has guest conducted the Charlotte Civic Orchestras and appeared on several local chamber music series as either a violinist or conductor. Dr. Pereira was featured at the Charlotte Symphony’s annual Youth Festival, conducting the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, the JYO and CSYO, as well as the combined professional and youth orchestras.
Dr. Pereira co-directed, with Dr. Paul Nitsch, the Fun with Chamber Music program for youth at Queens University of Charlotte and has taught violin at Queens. Students from his orchestra and private teaching studio have gone on to major in music at noted conservatories and universities, including the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, the University of Texas at Austin, Yale School of Music, Peabody Institute at the Johns Hopkins University, Oberlin College, North Carolina School of the Arts, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Vanderbilt University. Graduates of his studio and orchestras also hold performing and teaching positions in many of the nation’s orchestras and universities, as well as having musical careers in film, television, and non-classical genres.
A native of South Africa, Dr. Pereira received his early training in violin in Pretoria from Walter Mony and Alan Solomon, and holds Teacher and Performer Licentiates from the University of South Africa He studied in this country with David Cerone, graduating as valedictorian from the Cleveland Institute of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1981 and a Master of Music degree in 1982. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987, studying with Vincent Frittelli. Dr. Pereira served as Concertmaster of both the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra as well as the University of Texas Orchestra, and conducted the University of Texas String Project Orchestra. Since 1985, Dr. Pereira has been a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared frequently as a soloist and chamber musician in the United States, South Africa, and Namibia, and has soloed with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the Charlotte Civic Orchestra He believes strongly in educating young musicians and maintains an active and successful violin studio With the newly created YOC, Dr Pereira continues to foster musical excellence in orchestral performance, drawing on over 30 years of professional experience.
Board of Directors
President: Kenneth Jackson
Vice President: Christina Beekman-Chin
Secretary: Richard Van der Kraan
Treasurer: Yelena Moshkovsky
Executive Director: Chris Rydel
Music Director & Conductor: Ernest Pereira
President Elect: Christopher Wescott
Friends of the YOC Chair: Beth Garges
At Large: Abdullah Birdsong
At Large: Donna Kiser
At Large: Mike Negus
At Large: Whitney Peters Administration
Chris Rydel, Executive Director
Debby Groenhout, Executive Assistant
Jimie Maley, YOC Manager
YOC Sectional Coaches
Dr. Ernest Pereira - Violin 1
Kathy Jarrell - Violin 2
Ning Zhao - Viola
Allison Drenkow - Cello
Jeff Ferdon - Bass
Lori Tiberio - Woodwinds
Nick Fife - Brass
Brice Burton – Percussion
YOC Upcoming Concerts
Family Concert
November 20, 2023
Halton Theater, CPCC
YOC at the Mint
December 6, 2023
6:30 and 7:30pm
Uptown Mint
PLAY YOUR PART
Your contribution today will ensure that YOC musicians continue to make music together, and that no student misses out on the YOC experience. Your generous gift will be a tremendous encouragement to our students.
Make a tax deductible gift online today. Thank you!
